ATTENTIONï¿½SUBSCRIBERS:Your ePilot newsletter is being sent early this week in order to bring you the latest airspace information before the July 4 holiday weekend. Concerns about potential terrorist activity have already resulted in a new airspace restriction over Boston, and there is a possibility that the Washington, D.C., TFR could expand. Check AOPA Online for updates and obtain a full briefing before flying.

Protecting GA

AOPA ASKS FAA FOR GRAPHICAL TFR NOTICESAOPA President Phil Boyer has asked FAA Administrator Jane Garvey in a July 2 letter for graphical notices to airmen to help pilots avoid airspace restrictions. He pointed out that unintentional TFR incursions hurt general aviation, and leave a perception with the public that GA is a security threat. "I am certainly not defending the actions of these pilots or taking away from the seriousness of the violations," Boyer wrote. "How can the FAA expect pilots to avoid airspace when they are not given proper maps and tools needed to plot a course for avoiding airspace?" AOPA last November joined with Jeppesen to create 86 graphical TFRs for the AOPA Online Web site in only 24 hours, and continues to provide graphical depictions as new TFRs are created. However, AOPA strongly believes it should be a government responsibility, Boyer said. The FAA plans to work with Jeppesen to make graphical depictions available to flight service station briefers, but AOPA believes the depictions should also be distributed to pilots. Additionally, AOPA has learned from its members of briefers who insist there are no current notams for the Washington, D.C., area, thus sending pilots off with incomplete information.

RESTRICTION FOR GATHERINGS STILL IN EFFECTA notam in effect since last September prohibiting flights over large gatherings, such as a fireworks display, remains in effect. Since no circling or loitering is allowed in the vacinity of large events, that means GA pilots won't be viewing fireworks from the air this year.

GAï¿½News

FOSSSET REACHES GOALAmerican adventurer Steve Fossett drifted into aviation history Tuesday, becoming the first person to fly a balloon solo around the world. Flying through the darkness over the ocean south of Australia in his silvery Spirit of Freedom balloon, Fossett crossed east of 117 degrees longitude, the line from which he set off two weeks ago. The Chicago investment millionaire covered more than 19,250 miles on the trip, finally succeeding in his sixth attempt at the record. "Steve has crossed the finishing line," said mission controller Joe Ritchie. Speaking by satellite telephone, a calm-sounding Fossett said: "It is a wonderful time for me." After breaking the record, Fossett was expected to continue drifting across Australia until daylight, when he would be able to find a safe place to land most likely on southern Australia's vast Nullarbor Plain.

OMF SYMPHONY 160 RECEIVES IFR CERTIFICATIONThe OMF Symphony 160, a two-seat single-engine airplane currently in production as a VFR aircraft, won its IFR certification from the FAA on June 28. The Symphony had received LBA (German) IFR certification in May. Changes to the model include a split electrical bus, lightning protection, an alternate static source, and antenna and wiring changes. The avionics have also been upgraded in the IFR model to feature a Garmin stack: a GNS 430 and GNS 420, a GTX 327 transponder, and a GMA 340 audio panel/intercom. The IFR-equipped Symphony retails for $140,000, with the VFR version priced at $120,000. For more, see the Web site.

MORE TCM ENGINES PROPOSED FOR ADTwo engine models would be added to an existing airworthiness directive affecting several Teledyne Continental Motors engines under a proposed amendment to the AD. The proposal adds TCM C125- and C145-series engines to an AD issued two years ago regarding magnetos in TCM O-300, IO-360, TSIO-360, and LTSIO-360-AE engines. The AD requires an inspection of magnetos to assure that a stop pin is in place, and if it is not, the engine gear train must be inspected as well. Submit comments in triplicate to the FAA, New England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 2000-NE-19-AD, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803-5299. Comments will be received until August 26 from interested parties.

MOONEY GETS PRODUCTION CERTIFICATEMooney Airplane Company has received an FAA production certificate that covers the current Mooney models: Eagle2 (Mooney M20S), Ovation2 (Mooney M20R) and the Bravo2 (Mooney M20M). Jack Jansen, President and Chief Operating Officer of Mooney Airplane Company said, "This is an important milestone for the Mooney Airplane Company. Since we acquired the company on March 19 we have been working to bring the production back online. We've built the workforce to 102 people and have now received the approval from the FAA to produce and deliver fully certified airplanes." The Mooney Aerospace Group acquired Mooney Airplane Company, Inc. earlier this year. The company has resumed production and has begun flight tests of the first production airplanes. The first customer delivery is anticipated at EAA's AirVenture Oshkosh 2002 in late July.

MORE STATES REQUIRING CRIMINAL CHECKS, AOPAï¿½SAYSIn what has become an alarming trend, New York recently became the seventh state to consider legislation requiring criminal background checks before an individual can receive flight instruction. Only Michigan has enacted such a requirement where members are telling AOPA they are being treated like criminals, subject to the whims of local law enforcement offices and facing bureaucratic red tape."Michigan's law is not the way to encourage a new student pilot who is enthusiastic about learning to fly and certificated pilots needing dual instruction." commented Andy Cebula, AOPA's senior vice president for Government and Technical Affairs. Last week the New York Assembly approved a measure, A.B. 11863, requiring criminal history records checks for individuals seeking to learn to fly, to obtain flight training for an advanced rating or certificate, or even obtain basic recurrent training such as a flight review or instrument proficiency check. AOPA has raised its objections to the legislation in a letter to the committee and argues that states should not be in the role of regulating a federally controlled activity like flight training.

HOMELAND SECURITY TOPS CONGRESSIONAL ISSUEAs Congress prepared to break for the July 4th district work period, initial hearings on the bills that would create a Department of Homeland Security came to a close. Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) has set the date of September 11 for the bill to reach the President's desk for signature and many legislators seem confident about reaching that goal. AOPA is emphasizing the importance of efficient transportation and the needs of general aviation as discussions continue concerning shifting the fledgling Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) to this new department. In the hearings, members of Congress have questioned Director Tom Ridge about the White House plan for reorganization, and raised concerns about how moving agencies to the Homeland Security Department will affect each agency's ability to complete its mission. Congress is expected to return to Washington on Monday to proceed with the bill.

Airport Support Network

AIRPORT SUPPORT VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDEDAOPA started the Airport Support Network (ASN) to provide a coordinated effort to reduce anti-airport sentiment. ASN volunteers keep AOPA headquarters abreast of political and public opinion developments that may affect their airports. They attend public meetings dealing with airport matters and report to AOPA on the proceedings. ASN volunteers help promote local airport activities to enhance the airport's public image. They also act as the AOPA liaison with local pilot associations, user groups, airport advisory commissions, and airport management. Does this sound like something your airport has? If not, your airport needs an ASN volunteer. Below are just a few airports in your area where an ASN volunteer could make a difference.

Here's a question asked by an AOPA member last week of our AOPA technical specialists. Test your knowledge.

Question:I am a CFI and am curious as to how long an endorsement to take the private pilot knowledge test is valid?

Answer:Neither FAR 61.35, "Knowledge Test: Prerequisites and Passing Grades," nor FAA Order 8080.6C, "Conduct of Airman Knowledge Tests," indicates that the required endorsement for the knowledge test has an expiration date. Once taken and passed, the knowledge test is valid for 24 months in accordance with FAR 61.39(a)(1). However, be aware that if the knowledge test was failed, one must comply with the necessary training and endorsement specified in FAR 61.49 before retesting. For more information on CFI endorsements, see AOPA Online.

Did you know you can create a personal e-card using the images from the AOPA Online Gallery? Send one to a friend today. See AOPA Online.

What's New At AOPAï¿½Online

NEVER AGAINA heavy airplane, rising terrain, and a landing strip that was truly unimproved lead a pilot to remember this flight, logged in the Arizona desert 25 years ago. See the latest Never Again Online, titled "Why I'll never forget my 1,000th hour," exclusively on AOPA Online.

Fargo, North Dakota. The Marion Jayne 1800 and Fargo 300 Air Races take place July 13 through 19, starting and finishing at Hector International Airport (FAR). Contact Patricia Jayne Keefer, 817/491-2848, or visit the Web site.

ASF PINCH-HITTER GROUND-SCHOOL COURSES(Pinch-Hitter courses start at 9:30 a.m.) The next Pinch-Hitterï¿½ Ground Schools will take place in Jacksonville, Florida, and San Diego on July 28. For more Pinch-Hitter courses, see AOPA Online.

ASF SAFETY SEMINARSAOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety Seminars are scheduled in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 24 through 27. The topics vary. For the complete schedule, see AOPAï¿½Online.